What’s heartburn? What’s a heart attack?
Heartburn occurs when the digestive acids from the stomach creep up to the esophagus. This happens when the muscle band just above the stomach on the esophagus is either relaxed or weakened. “Our stomach is made for acid and can handle it, but our esophagus is not,” said Dr. Mary Ann Bauman, practicing physician and medical director of women’s health at INTEGRIS Health Systems, in an American Heart Association report. Other possible causes of heartburn could be carrying excess weight, lying down after a large meal, gastritis, a gallbladder attack, or a peptic ulcer.
A heart attack occurs when oxygen-rich blood is reduced or cut off from the heart muscle. This reduction of blood flow is typically the result of clogged or narrowed arteries that transport blood to the heart. An attack could involve several semi-blocked arteries resulting in a severe reduction of oxygen to the heart.
Symptoms of heartburn and a heart attack may seem similar but with knowledge of both, the differences will become apparent, and appropriate medical attention can be administered.
What are the symptoms of heartburn, and what can I do about them?
Signs of heartburn usually include: eating a heavy or fat-laden meal, and then symptoms start; a burning sensation from the upper abdomen up to the neck; difficulty swallowing, or feeling like food is stuck in the middle of the esophagus; and an episode which might last minutes or hours.